This blog is the place where I post reviews of the books I have read. I review audiobooks, regular books and eBooks for authors and publishers as well as any other book or audiobook that catches my eye.

THE BLOODFORGED picks up a few months after “The BLOODBOUND” ends. Alix is now married to Prince Liam and is still King Erik’s bodyguard as well as the Captain of his guard.

The war rages on and King Erik knows that he must find a way to bring the nation’s allies into the war. If he fails to do so, his Kingdom will fall.

To that end, Erik and Alix set out to the city of Ost in the Kingdom of Harram while Liam is sent to the seaside capital of the kingdom of Onnan.

This book follows the journeys and arrival of both diplomatic parties and their return to Arden.

Though this is the second book in the series, I actually liked it even more than the first book. That is telling since I rated the first book as 5 out of 5 stars already. So, the question is: how do I rate this book higher since 5 stars is the most that can be given? I guess, technically I cannot give it a higher rating, but if it were possible, this book would rate 6 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Why such a high rating? Well, that is simple. I LITERALLY COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. I kept saying to myself: “Ok, I’ll go to bed after this chapter” then that wouldn’t happen, so next it was “Just one more scene; I just need to see how this section plays out” but there just never seemed to be a good place to stop. The action scenes had me holding my breath and the descriptions of Liam’s attempts to manoeuvre the complicated political situation were unerringly believable.

If Erin Lindsey ever gets elected to a political seat she could easily become President. She has a devious mind that would be well suited to the snake-pit that is the world of politics. Yet she also has a keen sense of honour & duty, so perhaps she really isn’t suited to that world.

Her knowledge of military tactics (at least the sword and archery type of warfare) is excellent and she has created exceptional scenes that I would love to see come to life as a television series. HBO would be the perfect fit for the BLOODBOUND series.

The only thing I am unhappy about is the fact the third book in the series will not be released until October 2016. However, I will be keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for an even earlier release date.

If you want to read a series that will draw you in, with characters that are so realistic that you will form detailed pictures of them in your mind, and a story that will not only keep you on the edge of your seat, but that you will not want to put down, then you need to read BLOODBOUND & BLOODFORGED.

This is an absolute MUST READ for all lovers of Fantasy Fiction.

I rate THE BLOODFORGED as 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Erin Lindsey is on a quest to write the perfect summer vacation novel, with just the right blend of action, heartbreak, and triumph. The Bloodbound series is her first effort. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and a pair of half-domesticated cats.She also writes fantasy mysteries as E.L. Tettensor

~ I received a free autographed, paperback copy of this book through the Goodreads Giveaway program.

Alix is a scout in the King’s army. Her position relegates her to the edge of the action. But, when she sees that the King’s brother and his soldiers choose to stand by and watch the battle rather than to aide their King, Alix decides to try to fight her way to the king’s side.

By a quirk of fate Alix’s days as a scout end that day, and instead she agrees to be the head of the King’s personal guard.

Alix and King Erik must try to regain his crown from a traitor, all the while fighting a war against the invading Oridian army that is led by an evil man called The Priest.

If all that action isn’t enough for you, don’t worry, there is also a terrific romance portion to this book, as well as a sort-of love triangle.

This book has everything that fantasy genre lovers are looking for. It takes place in a detailed world with centuries of history, it is a world similar in dress & politics to “Game of Thrones”. But what I love about the Kingdom of Alden is that women are seen as true equals to their male counterparts. Women and men both hold positions of power and though the King is the ultimate authority in the land, women are not treated as property. In fact, the story centres around a strong female leading character.

Alix is tough and smart. She is opinionated and sometimes uncouth, but she can also transform into a “proper court woman” if the situation calls for it. Alix is a woman that readers will find themselves cheering for. She may not always make the right choices, but she always puts her Kingdom before herself. Alix is the ultimate patriot.

The Orridians who are attacking Alden bring to mind the current situation in the Middle East. Their priests hold the power and will do loathsome and despicable things in the name of their gods.

I definitely recommend this book to both male and female lovers of fantasy fiction. In fact, whether or not you have read fantasy fiction in the past or not, this is a terrific series to start with.

I rate “BLOODBOUND” as 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am already reading the second book in the series, entitled “THE BLOODFORGED” and have found myself sucked into the story even though I have only read a few chapters. I can’t wait to see what happens next for Alix, Liam, Rig and King Erik.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Erin Lindsey is on a quest to write the perfect summer vacation novel, with just the right blend of action, heartbreak, and triumph. The Bloodbound series is her first effort. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and a pair of half-domesticated cats.She also writes fantasy mysteries as E.L. Tettensor